Vice President Al Gore yesterday seemed to shift his stance on Elian Gonzalez, saying the views of the boy’s dad — who wants to take him back to Cuba — should be “determinative” if he voices them “on free soil.”

“If the father says on free soil that he believes the son should go back to Cuba with him, that, of course, is likely to be determinative and will be determinative,” the Democratic presidential hopeful told NBC’s “Today” show yesterday.

But aides denied that’s a flip-flop from last week, when the veep dramatically broke with President Clinton to back U.S. resident status for Elian, his dad, stepmom and baby half-brother.

Gore later put out a statement reiterating that Elian’s fate should go to a U.S. family court and saying U.S. resident status would let Elian’s dad tell the court “what is in his heart” — a view he shares with Republican presidential rival George W. Bush.

Critics have accused Gore of pandering to Miami’s Cuban-Americans in hopes of winning Florida next November — that community accounts for 7 to 8 percent of the statewide vote.

Some also suggest that Gore is trying to distance himself in case the story turns into a disaster politically and for the little boy, whose mom died when their boat sank on the way to Florida.

Bush yesterday said the family court should decide Elian’s fate, but added: “The mother was coming to America to free her child and herself. That’s always important to remember.”

He also said he’d “absolutely” favor letting Elian’s family stay here.

Polls show most Americans believe Elian should go home with his dad — but analysts say the voters who are most likely to cast ballots on this one issue are the Cuban exiles who want him to stay here.